The Royal Castle of Rolfis was solidly built.
The castle town had a functional feel to it — or in other words, it gave a rather plain impression.
Within that modest royal castle, only the audience hall was lavish. However, many of the decorations looked as though they had been forced in.
A red carpet was laid out, and upon a slightly elevated platform sat the princess in a great chair. Beside her was Prince Dario of Selva, her fiancé.
Her Highness the Princess, Annerine Rolfis, wore her hair in a half-up style. Her long hair was clearly her pride, yet she had the ends tied back and let it drape over her shoulders while seated.
Her purple hair faded to a lighter shade for roughly the final third of its length.
She wore a white dress, and draped over her shoulders — perhaps to display her hair — was a red cape.
Her skin was pale, and her expression was gentle. Her slightly languid eyes held green pupils.
However, her expression was a touch troubled.
She kept glancing at the reactions of her fiancé seated beside her — Dario of Selva. Though Dario sat with a smile, it was stiff, suggesting he was not pleased on the inside.
He had white hair and wore loose-fitting white garments, which made his brown skin stand out all the more. His red eyes were fixed on us.
One step below the princess and seated in the closest position was Chancellor Lombolt, who cleared his throat and continued the conversation.
"Then, is your business to be handled as an independent matter?"
Former High Priest Gastone shook his head in denial. Both men were rather barren on top, and perhaps that lent them some kinship, for Gastone spoke to Lombolt in a surprisingly gentle tone.
(Lombolt looks like he's having a rough time of it.)
He had no hair on his head, sharp eyes, and a thin frame that made the observer worry about his health. That was Lombolt for you.
"No. We are not here as independents — we aim for recapture. We requested this audience in order to make clear that we will have no intention of launching any offensive against the people of Rolfis."
Nobles and knights lined the hall on all sides, making the audience chamber feel cramped.
From within the Jewel, disrespectful voices drifted out.
The Seventh Generation spoke.
'...It's more shabby than my own manor.'
The Third Generation added.
'Well, the land is smaller compared to what the Fourth Generation had. Can't be helped, right?'
The Fifth Generation, checking appearances, remarked.
'The scale is too small to gather soldiers... If numbers won't do, then raise the quality. I can see the effort's been put in, but... why does this room alone feel so off? Everything else is simple and plain.'
The Fourth Generation said.
'The taste is pretty bad, isn't it? Even I can tell that.'
The Sixth Generation seemed to be looking at Dario.
'...Isn't that the taste of that prince called Dario? Wrist accessories, necklaces, and all sorts of ornaments piled on. Doesn't seem like new money, though.'
Selba was a country with a fair amount of history. Not new money, but its taste couldn't be called good either.
(So that's the nature of the country? In that case, did they accommodate Selba's style?)
Mr. Lombolto said to Mr. Gastone.
'I see. So you intend to move toward recapture. That's why you want our assistance.'
The one who spoke up here was Ms. Selma.
'No, we will act on our own. Well, after the recapture is complete, we may seek your cooperation.'
Ms. Aura remained silent. Both Ms. Aura and Ms. Selma were wearing dresses prepared by Monica, drawing the eyes of every man in the room.
Dario whispered something to Princess Annerine.
After witnessing that, I looked around. I didn't miss the bitter expressions on the faces of Ms. Alette and the knights standing nearby.
And then, Princess Annerine opened her mouth to speak.
But acting alone must be difficult. Why not stay here in Rolfis? We believe there are things we can do for you, no?
Ms. Selma.
No, the sentiment is enough. We understand we are asking for a great deal while Zayin is already causing trouble for Rolfis.
What we wanted here was a mutual promise not to interfere with each other. And my own purpose was to see the Princess.
Novem, standing beside me, watched the Princess with an expressionless face. A smile wouldn't be good, nor would a serious look—rather, it was as if she were carefully assessing something.
Opposite her, Miranda stood.
Miranda, for her part, had her gaze fixed on Dario.
As for Princess Annerine:
If you stay with us, negotiations will surely be possible. We are prepared to hand over the mithril. Could you lend your strength to help us avoid war?
In response to this persuasion, Ms. Selma:
The offer is appreciated. However, we are past the point of avoiding war. Both armies are said to be gathering at the border. Skirmishes are already beginning. Furthermore, Zayin is demanding visible results.
From the start, Zayin didn't want mithril. What he wanted was a pretext to invade. The mithril simply appeared at a convenient timing.
As Ms. Selma began to persuade Princess Annerine, her fiancé, Dario, moved. He stood and began to clap.
As everyone's gaze turned to him, Dario opened his mouth.
No, that's truly splendid. A saint who rises for her homeland… well, a former saint. I think you are beautiful. However, I'd like you to look not only at yourself, but also at Rolfis's current situation. To put it bluntly, you are the ones who caused this disturbance. Shouldn't you be the ones cooperating with us?
It was certainly a valid opinion, but I already knew the truth.
That Selva was working behind the scenes, steadily advancing her preparations.
After gathering information from the informant Rauno and listening to his conclusion—the hypothesis—he'd put forward, there were parts that made sense.
(Selva is also in a hurry.)
Selva was in a hurry because her neighboring country bordered a nation where the Two Great War Maidens—the two outstanding women—were in opposition.
To counter their threat, strengthening their own national power was a given, but they also sought cooperation with other nations. That the target was not Rolfis but Zayin—this was Rauno's hypothesis.
(Well, I don't know what their true objective really is, but whether they carve off territory or seize it outright, Zayin and Selva are sure to come out ahead.)
This time, Rolfis was the one being used as fodder.
Aura spoke up. She seemed a little tired of the atmosphere in the room.
"...We've already said we'll handle our own problems. Besides, our proposal is just as you've heard. Wouldn't it benefit your side as well?"
Our proposal.
It was a uprising in Zayin's territory—the land that had once belonged to Rolfis. The plan was to reclaim the now-deserted fortress and use it as a base to launch an independent faction.
I hadn't wanted to do it because it was a hassle, but since Rolfis couldn't be counted on, we had no choice but to go that route.
After all, Rolfis was practically under the thumb of their fiancé, Dario. And that meant they were acting according to Selva's wishes.
(If we'd allied with them carelessly, it would've been either keep-feeding-the-pet or assassination... what a pain.)
One of the lined-up nobles raised his voice.
"Your Highness. If the uprising takes place on the border, Zayin will have to divert a portion of its forces in that direction. In other words, it means fewer enemy troops on the front lines. Surely this proposal is worth accepting?"
Other nobles joined in as well.
"What matters right now is whittling down the enemy's fighting strength. For Zayin, an uprising by the former Saint and her companions cannot be ignored. If anything, I think we should provide some measure of support ourselves—supplies, soldiers, and funds. The more, the better."
They said they would support us, but what they really wanted was to draw enemy fire our way. It was the right call for protecting their own country.
Then Princess Anneliese spoke.
"Before the war even begins, and yet you're already thinking about fighting... Finding every means to avoid conflict—that's what politics should be."
(She's not wrong. But where she goes wrong is—)
The Sixth Generation put my thoughts into words.
*"How naive. The war doesn't begin before it starts—it's already begun. This girl could have been a fine queen if only she'd kept quiet during peacetime."*
The Third Generation, too.
"Looks the part, perfect for a decoration. But I guess the real problem is that she's blind when it comes to love?"
Right—she's in love with the prince of Selva, so she just does whatever he says.
What makes her truly terrible is that she adopts Dario's opinions over those of her own retainers. All sorts of problems had been brewing internally, and Rolfis's domain was falling apart at the seams.
(The reason you can't trust this woman is that she changes her stance the instant her fiancé says something.)
It was precisely this kind of information that led the successive heads to call Princess Annerine terrible. Her words carried no credibility. And so she could not be trusted.
She was riddled with risks as an ally. That was why they had kept their distance.
Alette spoke up to challenge Princess Annerine.
"Your Highness, Zayin could strike at any moment now. Evasion is already impossible. Please, for both our sakes, right here—"
And once again, her opinion was cut off.
Dario pointed at me.
"I've permitted your presence here because you're a candidate for next vice-commander, but it seems you're not suited for the role. Negotiating right up to the wire for the sake of the people—that's what matters. And are your eyes nothing more than sieve holes? A mere adventurer—and an unknown one at that, installed as temporary knight commander on a whim? You genuinely believe someone who's never even led troops can hold a fortress? Then allow us to tell you what you are—incompetent."
Hearing those words, the Third Generation trembled.
"Th-That's true. Lyle hasn't... experienced an actual war yet. That much is correct."
I had to agree.
Across the audience hall, I could see nobles and knights straining to contain their fury. Yet Dario pressed on.
"From what I hear, it's a band of roughly a hundred adventurers. Do you even think they can reach the fortress?"
Alette came to my defense.
"...Lyle is an exceptional adventurer, even in Baim. I can vouch for that personally. I also believe he has great potential."
Dario scoffed.
"Completely unreliable, aren't they? That's why Rolfis's knight order is hopeless. Knights imitating adventurers, trying to earn their own keep..."
Princess Annerine, seated beside Dario...
"I'm terribly sorry, Lord Dario. But Alette was speaking out of concern for the kingdom as well. Please forgive her."
The Fourth Generation spoke up.
"Well, she's young. About the same age as Lyle, perhaps? It's easy to let love cloud your judgment. But the timing of this is just lethal."
In the audience hall, the surrounding nobles and knights launched into an argument with Dario. We had been completely left behind.
Holding back a bitter smile, I asked for permission to speak.
"Pardon me. Might I be allowed to say something?"
When the room finally quieted, Lord Romboldt looked at me and granted his permission.
"No, it is we who were discourteous. Please, go ahead."
I looked not at Dario, but at Princess Annerine as I spoke.
"Then, if we were to seize the fortress — would all of our problems be resolved?"
Perhaps angered at being ignored, Dario cut in from the side.
"You think you can take it? Someone who's never seen a battlefield sure talks big."
Dario was in his mid-twenties. But from what I had researched, there was no record of him ever setting foot on a battlefield. I looked at Princess Annerine once more.
"So, if we were to take the fortress — the Neunil Fortress — would all of our problems be solved?"
Well, they wouldn't be.
But perhaps he was furious and assumed we were incapable, because Dario spoke up.
"By all means, give it a try. If you come crawling back after a defeat, that's one thing — but don't you dare let our precious Holy Maiden be captured!"
The Fifth Generation's voice rang out.
"This one's more convenient when we're not around, so to speak. Rather, it'd be better if they just lost and disappeared."
And then, Her Highness Princess Anneliënne as well.
"Yes. If that's possible, then we can entrust the Holy Maidens' affairs to you as well."
Inside my mind.
(They're already calling me Holy Maiden-handling. And they think they're above me? It's not like I'm asking for their help or anything... but this works out perfectly.)
I bowed right there, and then I got a reaction from my Skills.
A response was approaching the audience hall in a hurry.
The Third Generation was calling out to me. It seemed like she had some scheme in mind.
"Lyle, right here —"
Hearing that, I went ahead with an exaggerated gesture even though I thought I'd be humiliated if this backfired.
"Then allow me, Lyle Walt, to seize this fortress and prove it to you all. It's simple, really. Let's see... yes, that should be everything."
I snapped my fingers, and everyone turned to look at me with stares that said I'd lost my mind. Princess Anneliënne stood there dumbfounded. Dario looked at me.
"Have you gone insane?"
As he said that with a nasty grin, Novem spoke up beside me.
"Lyle-sama, that joke's going too far."
And then Miranda as well.
"It'd be fine if you were always about that level."
They both looked at me with exasperated expressions. However, neither of them directed a mocking gaze my way.
Then, the doors to the audience hall were thrown open with great force.
The person who entered was a knight who appeared to be a messenger. He was in a panic, gasping for breath. After taking one deep breath.
"A, a messenger! Neunille Fortress has—"
The reactions around me were interesting. Many people were looking back and forth between my face and the messenger's with wide eyes.
But inside, I was thinking.
(Good thing I hit the mark... I won't be humiliated)
I felt relieved.
"—Neunille Fortress has been taken by a group calling themselves the Holy Knights!"
While the room descended into chaos, I turned to Princess Annerine.
"Then, that settles it. We'll be heading to the fortress now. We'll keep the enemy engaged, if only a little, to give Rolfis an advantage. Ah, and we won't need any reinforcements. You're in a difficult position as it is. Also, this opportunity we've created... please make good use of it."
As I said that and turned to leave the audience hall with everyone in tow, a voice called out from behind. It was Dario.
"W-wait! Do you even understand what you've done?! With this, the chance to avoid war between Rolfis and Zayin is gone! This is all your responsibility!"
From the Jewel, I heard the Third Generation's cheerful voice.
"Lyle's responsibility? Ahahaha!! No, no... this is a matter between Zayin and Zayin — it just so happened that the timing for an uprising became favorable, that's all. Besides, we informed them in advance, so we're being rather conscientious, aren't we? It's terrible, really. We went out of our way to let them know, and still..."
(In advance, huh. Well, I did tell them before the information got through, but still, how petty.)
The Third Generation had known this would happen and was enjoying it. Truly scheming.
I had prepared enough fighting strength to take the fortress. But I hadn't expected the messenger to come charging in at this exact moment.
I turned around and said one line.
"Oh my, you're saying I should take responsibility? Well, that is a problem... I have neither rights nor obligations toward Rolfis. I question whether there's any need for me to take responsibility at all. Now then, I'll be busy from here on, so if you'll excuse me."
As I left the audience hall, Alette gave me a thumbs-up at an angle where Dario couldn't see.
She looked quite pleased.
But for us, the real work was just beginning.
"Now then, shall we move on to the next step?"
I decided to move on to the next step without delay.